Chain construction



June 20, 1950 c. s. JONES 2,512,429

CHAIN CONSTRUCTION Filed May 10, 1946 25 f. [Ii-I- i J0 JZJ i l 2/ 15 F I f I ll 'Z/0 [h- Ii I 11 18 fizz/6722 07 Corlfllfz S. \Jrzes Patented June 20, 1950 CHAIN CONSTRUCTION of Ohio Application May 10, 1946, Serial No. 668,727

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in chain construction, of the type embodying outside and inside bars forming the links, the bars of the links being laterally spaced, and which links are pivotally connected together by means of a thimble or bushing and a pivot pin.

It is well known, in the manufacture of chains of this character, that are constructed of cast material, the side bars and the bearing thimbles are cast all in one link.

In the manufacture of what is known as steel chains, the bushings or thimbles are milled at their ends and pressed into oblong holes punched in the inside bars of the links, both for the purpose of maintaining the thimbles or bushings against turning with respect to the bars, and to provide sufficient bearing area. on the pin, to give the chain reasonable life. The pivot pin is generally milled at one end or provided with a lug to prevent its turning in the outside bars.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved chain of this character in which the bearing thimble or bushing is constructed separately from the bars and then welded, brazed, or similarly secured to the inner face of one of the inner link bars.

A further object is to provide improved means for securing the thimble or bushing in position.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts, and in substantially the method of carrying the invention into operation, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawing exemplifying this invention and in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a chain of this character, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the thimble or sleeve, and one end of the inner link, showing the manner of attaching the thimble to the link.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the thimble attached to the link.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view, similar to Fig. l, of another form of chain.

Referring to the drawing the numeral [0 designates the outside bars, and II, the inside bars of a pair of links of a chain, and which bars may be of any desired or suitable size and of any desired configuration. The numeral designates a thimble or bushing which is constructed separately from and is disposed between the ends of the inside bars II, and may be constructed of any suitable material, preferably steel. One end of the thimble is preferably shaped to provide a circumferential reduced portion or flange l3, or may be otherwise suitably prepared for projection welding. The welding may be accomplished in any suitable manner, such as by means or clamp type electrodes 14-45, to produce a welded joint I6, and by means of which joint the thimble will also be supported and held in position by one of its ends. The thimble is provided with a bearing opening l1, therethrough which registers with an opening IS in the end of the inner bar, an opening being also provided in the end of the co-operating inner bar II. The thimble is of a length that both of its ends will contact the respective inner bars H, and may be provided with lubrication openings [9.

The openings 20, in the adjacent ends of the proximate outside bars, register with the openings l8, in the inside bars, and a pivot pin 2|, passes through the registering openings. A head 22 is provided on one end of the pin, and the other end of the pin is fastened in any suitable manner, such as by being upset or deformed as at 23, or by means of a fastening element 24, such as a cotter pin or the like passing therethrough.

The bars l0ll may be either straight or ofiset respectively as at 25.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, and in the method of producing the invention, within the scope of the claim, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

A chain consisting of alternate wide and narrow links, each narrow link comprising two laterally spaced parallel side bars and two tubular thimbles bridging the gap between the side bars and serving as spacers therebetween and located individually near the respective ends of the narrow link, one end only of each thimble abutting and welded to the inner face only of one only of Said side bars, the other thimble similarly abutting and Welded at one end only to the inner face only of the other side bar, each of said side bars being apertured in registration with the bores of the two thimbles, each wide link comprising two laterally spaced parallel side bars the end por- 3 tions of which overlap the proximate end por- REFERENCES CITED tlons of the slde bars of the adlacent narrow The following references are of record in the links, each side bar of each wide link having an me of hi I aperture in registration with the aperture in the t S patent proximate end of the narrow-link side bar which UNITED STATES PATENTS it overlaps, and pivot pins, each of which extends 5 Number Name Date through the bore of one of said thimbles and 697,165 Palmros Apr. 18, 1902 through the several registering apertures and 1,451,625 Montague et a1.1 .-Apr. 10, 1923 serving to ipiyotally intercouple a narrow link wifih 2,319,979 Collins et2a1. -May-25, 19 3 an adjoining wide link. 1 "2,372,772 Ellis et a1. Apr. 3, 1945 CORWIN s. JONES. 9 

